Election fever was rampant at the annual Labour Day march and rally, and Premier Darrell Dexter hinted strongly that the writ will drop very soon.

“Very shortly we’re going to have the opportunity to profoundly influence the direction of this province in the years to come,” he told the strongly pro-NDP crowd at the Halifax Common on Monday.

Several NDP MPs, MLAs and candidates were in attendance for the festivities, along with hundreds of union members representing the NSGEU, PSAC, ATU and others. Participants gathered in Victoria Park and then marched to the Commons for a barbecue and the rally.

Dexter told the crowd his government had improved the lives of Nova Scotia workers over the last four years by changing the approach to economic growth.

“We decided very early on that…it was time to have a participatory economy,” he said, citing the national shipbuilding contract and the paper mill in Port Hawkesbury as success stories. “There are 1,000 people working in the Strait in the most productive mill not only in North America, but one of the most productive mills in the world.”

Carrie Campbell of the Halifax-District Labour Council said workers across the country are facing increasing cutbacks in both the private and public sector.

She said there’s a lot at stake in the upcoming election.

“Last week, (PC party leader) Jamie Baillie said he would cut 10 per cent of public sector jobs, (Liberal leader) Stephen McNeil said he would cut 100,” she said. “That’s a huge concern for us. They’re good paying jobs in Nova Scotia, where our unemployment rate is higher than in other parts of the country.”

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watchdog

September 03, 2013 - 09:25

That is not news around here, the signs are all around. They are called detour signs. I have seen hardly any road work in this area since the Dexter government was elected. Now there are more detour signs and road work at one time than I have seen in the last 40 years. I think the voters of Nova scotia will turn the Dexter government into a road show.

Observer just maybe the NDP government has to get project done on time and on budget LOL. Hey I am for the prediction that Unions will stab Dexter in the back. That will mean One of the other parties will not have that we will vote in the NDP thing hanging over their heads and hence the REAL cuts can come . Real Cuts that are badly needed in the most in debt territory in the Americas. Labor Unions are outdated and really not needed considering the shortage of skilled labor

Darrell also said before he was elected that he would cut government jobs. Along with all the other promises he made and broke. There are more government jobs now than when he got elected The shipyard has been laying people off and when the paper mill runs out of government money, it will stop showing a profit. As much as I hate to say it I can see the NDP getting back in again. I guess we are suckers for punishment.

Die he also explain why Non-union or anti-union contractors were awarded large construction contracts in Nova Scotia including the Pictou County Wellness centre and the new Jail. So much for the NDP being a party for the workers. Tell him on election day he won't be getting the union vote.